St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-26

ALs seven miles dis.
tant from New York. Thomas Harkins
formerly occupied farm on the back
road about half way between Arlington
and CarlStadt. The farm was used for
dairy purposes. His household con-
sisted of his wife and hired man, James
Callen. One day in the early part of
last spring Harkins came home from
New York and his wife called his atten-
ton to the fact that the water was be-
ginning to rise on the meadows. Hay-
ing some grass stacked at point near
the edge of the river he concluded to go
out and see if he could secure it in case
of flood. He got into boat some dis
lance below his destination and rowed
up the river. He did not return that
night. When morning came and the
day wore on, and still no tidings of him
reached his wife, she became greatly
alarmed. During the night the water
IN the river had risen rapidly and the
meadows were covered
WITH SEVERAL FEET OF WATER.
In the afternoon thorough search
was made along the river by several of
the neighborS in boats. The search was
kept up with vigor until late hour in
the afternoon, when one of the search
ers came upon boat wedged between
the piles of the bridge of the Greenwood
Lake road that crosses the Hackensack.
On examining the boat it was found to
contain Harkins' coat. This discovery
confirmed the fears of the searchers that
the occupant of the boat had been
drowned. The search for Harkins'
body was kept up for some time without
avail. Meanwhile Callen took charge
of the dairy and ran the farm as usual.
He had known Mrs. HarkinS in Ireland
before she married HarkinS. Six weeks
ago the supposed widow became Mrs.
Callen, and about two weeks after
the marriage Callen was taken sick
with pneumonia. Two weeks ago,
about 11:30 o'clock at night, a
knock came to the door of Callen's
house. The man, who had partially re-
covered from his sickness, went down.
When he opened the door he saw Har-
kins upon the stoop. The sight was too
much for the weak state of the invalid
and his superstitious mind, and Callen
fell in the hall in a faint. The noise
brought Mrs. Callen down stairs and
when her eyes rested upon the visitor
she uttered piercing scream and also
dropped upon the stairs in swOon. 1t
was long time before the man and
woman regained consciousness. When
the pair had recovered themselves Har-
kinS was informed of the condition of
affairs amid the tears of his former wife,
who believed him dead. For a time
Harkins was dazed at the information
and remained speechlesS. He could
scarcely believe that his wife had for
gotten him so soon. After hearing the
story and assuring himself that he was
not dreaming he turned abruptly around
and walked from the house, leaving Mr..
and Mrs. Callen in state of intense
bewilderment.
HARKINs' QUEER STORY.
"Harkins went to the Arlington hotel
aud for two days remained in his room,
having his meals sent to him. On the
third day he sent for the landlord, and
the latter went up to see him. He then
gave the above facts and related re-
markable story of himself. 1t appears
that,as was at first supposed on the day
that he had disappeared, Harkins was
caught in the strong current and after
endeavoring in vain to get his boat
toward land was swept on down the
river. By the time he reached the
bridge it was dark. Suddenly he re-
ceived a severe shock from striking the
bridge, and from that time lad no recol-
lection of what had TRANSFERRED until he
found himself wandering about the
streets of Pittsburg. All was a blank
to him. He had not the slightest idea
of how long he had been away from
home or how he reached PittSburg.
He was suffering from singing pain
in his head.1
When he had fdlly recovered himself
his first thought was of returning home.
He remembered that he had friends in
Pittsburg, and at once began to look
them up. He was successful in finding
them, and soon had the means with
which to return home, which he did at
once, after being seven months away.
His discovery on reaching home, he
said, almost unnerved him, and he was
at loss what to do under the circum-
stances. His wife's apparent fOrgetful-
ness had been a great shock to him, and
he intended to go away and leave her
unmOleSted.
HE TOOK HIS WIFE BACK.
''HarkinS asked the landlord to go to
the house that evening to get some
papers and other articles for him. When
he reached his former home he found
that Callen had died the night before.
The exposure and shock had been too
much for his weakened condition. He
was buried on the following day.
lon Friday evening Harkins sent for
his former wife. They had long in
terview with each other. Saturday
morning Harkins went to Newark and
placed the sale of the stock on his place
in the hands of lawyer, and said that
it would remain in charge of the new
hired man until sold. He also stated
that he had cOndoned his wife's tickle
ness and that they would both go to live
Go hot ha s,,S ,,Il
van county, New York. They both left
for their new home Sunday morning.
HarkinS, however, expects to return in
shl,t.f limo 20 mind hiS n foin.S